Prepare for the future ...

• Goal setting
• Outline methodologies to achieve goals
• Understand skill sets required to achieve goals
• Understand college and university admissions requirements - what are they looking for beyond grades and standard test percentiles
• Importance of volunteering, leadership and working with groups
• Create a personal plan to get you where you want to be
• Challenges are abundant, but there are approaches to deal with them
• Identify and approach mentors - folks who can help 
• Know your strengths - know your weaknesses
• Don't be afraid to ask questions
• There are no magic approaches - there are best practices and common behaviors of success to consider

• "Persuading Talented Teenagers to Dream Bigger" Remarks by Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - http://president.rpi.edu/speeches/2013/persuading-talented-teenagers-dream-bigger
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Summer Enrichment Programs https://summer.rpi.edu/
• MIT Admissions - Prepare for MIT
  • What to do in high school http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool
  • Summer Programs http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/summer
• The MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs (OEOP) in the School of Engineering offers three free-of-charge academic enrichment programs. Participants only have to provide their transportation to and from the Institute. In all three programs, selected students build self-confidence in their ability to be successful in a demanding academic atmosphere and have a chance to work with and befriend individuals of different racial, ethnic and other backgrounds. Although admission to MIT is not the focus of OEOP's programs, for our alumni, there is a strong record of successful admission to MIT and to other engineering and science universities.
  • MIT MITES - Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) Since 1975, this six-week residential program has leveraged a demanding academic atmosphere to help students develop the skills and confidence needed for success in technical fields. Along with calculus, physics, natural science, and humanities courses, students take a hands-on elective course and participate in lab tours and social events. MITES serves up to 80 student per year. A phenomenal summer  program for existing high school Juniors, applications due February - http://web.mit.edu/mites/index.html 
  • Engineering Experience at MIT (E2@MIT) - In this one-week residential program in August, students take one of six intensive project-based courses, which focus on specific science and engineering disciplines and culminate in final presentations. Outside of class, students attend admissions and financial aid sessions, tour labs, meet with MIT faculty, students, and alumni, and participate in social events. E2@MIT serves up to 80 students per year.  http://web.mit.edu/mites/index.html 
  • MIT Online Science, Technology and Engineering Community (MOSTEC) July to January. For six months via an online community, students interact with faculty and staff at MIT, receive admissions and financial aid advice, and participate in facilitated discussions about science and engineering research. Students also complete projects that they present during a five-day conference at MIT. MOSTEC can serve upwards of 100 students per year. http://web.mit.edu/mostec
• MIT WISE - (For existing high school Seniors)  We are pleased to invite you to apply to the MIT Weekend Immersion in Science & Engineering (WISE), which will take place twice during the fall semester: in September and October.  We have provided two opportunities to attend WISE to accommodate students schedules and you will indicate which program you would like to be considered for on the WISE application. Over the course of WISE, you will have the chance to attend classes, tour the campus, meet with professors, visit labs, stay with a current MIT student, and attend workshops to give you a glimpse of what life at MIT is really like. http://wise.mitadmissions.org
• Scholarships and Enrichment Programs - https://haygood.com/Education/Scholarships.aspx
• MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) - http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm - take a sip from the fire hydrant ...
• College Rankings & Lists - http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges?int=994d08
• Finding the Right School - http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/right-school?s_cid=content-center:college-hp&int=993408